Metal buckle and strap



Jan. 12, 1960 N. E. FAZENBAKER 2,920,357

METAL BUCKLE AND STRAP Filed June 20. 1955 M Q FIG. I. 3 '26 4| 4o T. L m

45 'Norris E. Fozenboker INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY United States Patent Q I 2,920,367 I METAL BUCKLE ANl) STRAr l ior'ris Fazenbaker, West Flew York, Application June 20, 1955, Serial No. 516,562 1 Claim. (a. 24-179) The present invention relates to an improved type of adjustable metallic buckle and strap.

An object of the present invention is to provide a'convenient means for fastening metallic belts or straps employed in securing packing cases and the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable buckle and strap that can be easily manipulated and that may be secured against risk of accidental displacement.

A further object of this invention is to provide a metallic buckle which is engageable and disengageable by a metal belt or strap and which may be locked thereto in any desired position. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable metal buckle and strap of simple and durable design, which may be adapted for use wherever the superior strength and other qualities of metal are required by the particular circumstances.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention, a buckle is provided with a' body of rectangular U-section, and with a wall spaced from and parallel with the bottom wall of the body, thus defining a strap way. A metallic strap is entered in the strap way, and is formed with square teeth extending inwardly frorn one side thereof. The buckle further has two pivotally mounted keepers, the first having two teeth with forwardly and downwardly inclined trailing edges, and at least one of these teeth having a perpendicular forward edge. The strap may be forced forward in the strap way, causing the first keeper to rise above it as the teeth of the strap engage the inclined trailing edges of the teeth of the keeper. The keeper is spring biased to downward position and after one tooth of the strap has passed forward of a tooth of the keeper, the strap may not move backwardly. A second keeper has a single substantially square tooth and is manually actuated into or out of engagement with the teeth of the strap. When the second keeper is so engaged, the strap may not move backward or forward.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter described. In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative ern bodiments of this invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the buckle and strap.

Figure 2 is a front View of the same.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 1 taken along the line 3-3.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken about the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the engagement of the strap and a keeper.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the engagement of the strap and a second keeper.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention therein shown comprises an elongate metal strap or leader 10, in combination with an 2,920,367 Patented Jan. 12, 1960 lQQ elongate buckle 11. The said strap has a substantially triangular wedge-shaped forward portion 12 and is provided with a plurality of square or rectangular teeth 13 formed along one of its sides.

The buckle 11- has a body 14 of U-shaped cross-section and a channel member 15 suitably atfixed therein and extending through the full length of the body '14. A lower side wall 16 of this channel member 15 is disposed in a spaced relation with the base 17 of the body 14 thereby forming a rectangular strapway 18 wherein the strap 10 may be slidably received, both ends 19, 20 of the said lower side wall 16 being flared upward to facilitate entry and manipulation of the leader 10.

In the lower sidewall 16 of the channel member 15 there is formed a rectangular recess 21 wherein is removably received a first keeper 22 having formed along its lower portion a forward tooth 23 having the leading edge 23A which is substantially vertical, and the forwardly and downwardly inclined rear surface or edge 22B. Keeper 22 further has a shorter essentially triangular or buttress tooth 24 having a substantially perpendicular or vertical leading surface or edge 25 and a forwardly and downwardly inclined trailing edge 25A. Keeper 22 is thus substantially F-shaped in plan, as defined by the horizontally extending body portion and the two depending teeth 23, 24. This keeper 22 is provided with a transverse aperture 26 at the foot of the F, and said aperture rotatably engages a pivot 27 mounted upon a side wall 28 of the body 14 and the pivot is suitably positioned within said aperture 26 by a plurality of washers 29. However, the keeper 22 is normally maintained at its lowest pivotal position within the recess 21 by an extension coil spring 30 located in a recess 31 formed in the side wall 28 of the body 14, one end of said spring 30 being secured to the said body 14 at 32 adjacent the lower boundary of base 17.

It is to be noted that the normal position of the keeper 22 is shown in full and dotted lines in Figure 2 but that it may be raised to the position therein shown in broken lines by a manually engageable knob 33 which is mounted on said keeper 22 and to which the upper end of the spring 30 is attached.

Above the rectangular recess '21, a second rectangular recess 34 is provided by bending down into a substantially vertical flange 35 a portion of the upper side wall 36 of the channel member 1'5. On this vertical flange 35 there is suitably mounted a pivot 37 engaging a transverse aperture 38 located within a second keeper 39 having a projecting manipulating arm 40, a body portion 41 and a substantially square tooth 42 with substantially perpendicular or vertical forward and rear surfaces or edges 43, 44, this keeper 39 being movable in a vertical plane about said pivot 37 from the engaged position shown in full lines in Figure 3 to the disengaged position shown in broken lines in said figure.

With the first keeper 22 in its lowest position, the strap 10 can be forced forward within the strap way 18, and to right of Figures 1, 2 and 5, so as to bring the forward surfaces of the rectangular teeth 13 into engagement with the inclined rear surfaces or edges of the teeth 23, 24 of the first keeper 22, thereby forcing this keeper 22 upwards so as to permit further forward movement. Upon continued motion in this direction, the keeper 22 will fall back into its normal position as each of the rectangular teeth 13 disengages therefrom. The same cycle of operation is repeated by further movement of the strap 10 as each of the rectangular teeth 13 is brought into successive engagement with the teeth 23, 24 of the keeper 22.

It will be noted that when the strap 10 is so engaged, it cannot be withdrawn in a rearward direction unless the keeper 22 is raised by the knob 33 since in the down position of the keeper 22, such rearward movement will bring the rear surfaces of two of the teeth 13 into engagement with the vertical leading surface 25 of the rear tooth 24 of said keeper 22 and with the forward surface 23A of the front tooth 23.

The F-shaped keeper 22 pivotally mounted by its foot portion thus is an exceptionally strong and efiicient instrumentality. Both of its teeth are engaged on their rear or cam surfaces 25A, 23B by the forward motion of the leader 10, and both of the teeth 23, 24 likewise engage the leader to resist rearward motion. Thus the fatigue of the metal of the teeth is distributed and the life of the teeth prolonged. Fatigue is also minimized by the massive construction of keeper 22 which is large in relation to its surfaces coacting with the leader 10, so that vibrations are dampened and crystallization of the molecular structure is delayed.

Moreover, with the second keeper 39 in its full line position, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the forward and rear vertical surfaces 43, 44 of its tooth 42 are engaged with the rectangular teeth 13 of the strap 10, thereby preventing movement of said strap in either a forward or rearward direction.

In using this device, it should be pointed out that the strap or leader 10 may be an end portion of a belt or strap composed of sheet metal, or may be suitably affixed thereto; and the other end of said belt or strap may be suitably affixed to the body 14. With this arrangement, the leader 10 constitutes either an integral portion of a strap or a strap extension member which may be used to tighten a suitable strap around packing boxes, crates and other containers by simply manipulating it into any desired locked position within the buckle 11. This position may be maintained during any desired period by the locking action of the second keeper 39, thereby preventing an accidental further tightening or loosening of the strap. When removal of the strap is desired, the keepers 22, 39 may be easily disengaged from their locked positions in the manner hereinabove set forth.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

In a fastening device, the combination of a rigid buckle and an elongate metallic strap, said buckle comprising an elongate body having portions defining a strap way and said strap being slidable in said strap way, said strap being formed along one side boundary with a plurality of square teeth and said buckle comprising a substantially F-shaped keeper pivotally mounted on said body by its foot portion, said keeper having a forward tooth and a shorter second tooth, both of said teeth having substantially vertical leading edges and forwardly and downwardly inclined trailing edges, means resiliently biasing said keeper to a lower position in which said forward edges engage said teeth of said strap to prevent rearward motion of the latter, and said trailing edges constituting cam surfaces causing said keeper to rise against the influence of said resilient means when said strap is moved forwardly against said trailing edges, said keepe further comprising a manually engageable knob mounted on said forward tooth and extending therefrom through the side wall of said body for releasing of said keeper to permit rearward motion of said strap, said buckle further comprising a second keeper, said second keeper being pivotally mounted on said buckle and having a substantially square tooth engageable in said strap for locking all motion of the latter, said second keeper further having a manipulating arm projecting upwardly from said body and said square tooth of said second keeper being disengageable from said strap by rotation of said manipulating arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 52,112 Crafts Jan. 16, 1866 98,572. Dice Jan. 4, 1870 166,614 Jones Aug. 10, 1875 171,543 Aston Dec. 28, 1875 184,901 Pollard Nov. 28, 1876 1,408,309 Saeter et a1. Feb. 28, 1922 2,054,840 Statham Sept. 22, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 301,871 Italy Oct. 14, 1932 878,566 France Oct. 19, 1942 

